General Studies

Paper-2

The nature and standard of questions in this paper will be such that a well-educated person will be able to answer them without any specialized study. The questions will be such as to test a candidate’s general awareness of a variety of subjects, which will have relevance for a career in Civil Services.

Developments in the field of science & technology, communications, and space :

In this part, questions will test the candidate’s awareness of the developments in the field of science and technology, communications and space, and also on basic ideas of computers.

Sample lecture from the Author Himself.

Past Years’ Questions from this section.

What is nanotechnology? List some of its Potential applications. [2019, 6 marks]
How are Human activities contributing to the acceleration of the sixth mass extinction?[2019, 6 marks]
What do you understand about additive manufacturing[ 3-D printing]? What are some of its applications?[ 2019, 6 marks]
What are Zoonotic diseases? Write a short note on any such disease.[ 2019, 6 marks]
What is e-waste? How can the problem be addressed?[2019,6 marks]
What are the objectives of the recently set of New Space India Limited?[ 2019, 6 marks]
Write a short note on the Event Horizon Telescope. [2019, 6 marks]
What is GPS? Explain its functioning?[2019, 6 marks]
Discuss the use of space communication technology in disaster management?[2019, 6 marks]
What do the following stand for? A] VoLTE B] GSM C]OTT services [ 2019, 6 marks]
Concert A] binary number 10.01 into decimal number B] decimal number 137 into a binary number.[ 2019, 6 marks]
Write a short note on the internet of things. [2019, 6 marks]
Write a short note on the operating system. [ 2019, 6 marks]
What is the secondary memory of a computer? Give examples. [2019, 6 marks]
What do you understand about Qubit? How is it different from classical Bit? [ 2019, 6 marks]
What is Graphene? Discuss the potential applications of graphene. [2018, 6 marks]
What is Ebola Virus Disease? In which continent is this found? How is Ebola treated? [ 2018, 6 marks]
Write a short note on ‘Atoms of peace’. [ 2018, 6 marks]
What is MRI? Explain its applications. [ 2018, 6 marks]
What is the significance of solid-state battery cells?[ 2018, 6 marks]
Describe, Briefly, the different forms of optical telecommunication.[2018, 6 marks]
What is ISRO? What are its main objectives?[ 2018, 6 marks]
Explain briefly the role of the antenna in the communication system.[ 2018, 6 marks]
‘Space technology is improving our lives and making the world a better place’- discuss briefly giving examples.[2018, 6 marks]
What do you mean by PSLV? What is its role in the development of a communication system? [ 2018, 6 marks]
What is a virus? Explain how computers can be protected free of viruses using anti-Virus software.[ 2018, 6 marks]
What is a Number System? Discuss how to do the conversion from one number system to another giving suitable examples.[ 2018, 6 marks]
Discuss how a program is executed on a computer. Explain the corresponding components.[ 2018, 6 marks]
What is computer memory? Discuss types of memory. Explain the units to measure computer memory.[2018, 6 marks]
What is a supercomputer? Explain the objectives and prosperous steps taken by the Odisha Government for setting up supercomputers. [2018, 6 marks]
What is Graphene? Highlight the creation of high-quality graphene from soybean.[2017, 6 marks]
What is Ebola? In which continent is this found? Name three Ebola Eradicated countries.[2017, 6 marks]
Name the scientist who has done a minuscule correction to the calculation of Mercury’s orbital precession of Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity. Explain the process. [2017, 6 marks]
Recently the distribution of pressure inside the proton has been mapped by using which theory and where? What is its assumption? [ 2017, 6 marks]
Describe newly invented batteries that can create electricity when they are wet or with any liquid.[ 2017, 6 marks]
What is an Antenna? Explain.[ 2017, 6 marks]
What are the applications of laser communication systems? How does it work?[ 2017, 6 marks]
What is the full form of ISRO? When was it formed? What is its main objective?
Write a short note on different forms of optical telecommunication.[2017, 6 marks]
What is ICT? How does this technology solve the problem for remote populations through wireless with special reference to VSAT? [2017, 6 marks]
Name and briefly explain the computer language which is used for artificial intelligence.[2017, 6 marks]
Discuss a section of code to which control is transferred when a processor is interrupted.[2017, 6 marks]
What is a virus? How do we protect computers free of viruses using anti-virus software?[ 2017, 6 marks]
What is a number system? Explain how to do conversion between two number systems. [2017, 6 marks]
What is a digital computer? Write a brief note on its functional elements.[ 2017, 6 marks]
Discuss the discovery of the new continent Zealandia. What is its scientific value?[ 2016, 6 marks]
What is that laser technique which researchers recently developed for assessing the stiffness of cancer cells? In which way is this better?[2016, 6 marks]
What is three-dimensional printing? How does it work?[2016, 6 marks]
What is the cryogenic engine tested by ISRO for the GSLV Mark-III rocket? Why is this test significant?[ 2016, 6 marks]
Write a note on World’s smallest (nano)thermometer.[ 2016, 6 marks]
What is VSAT? Explain how VSAT is useful for remote folks? How is it efficient compared to other means of communication?[ 2016, 6 marks]
Do radio waves need a medium to travel things? Explain how a space probe communicates? [2016, 6 marks]
What are uplink and downlink? What are the new communication features used by DSI? [2016, 6 marks]
How is the amplification of radio telecommunication signals relayed? What is a communication satellite and how its orbits are classified?[ 2016, 6 marks]
Write a brief note on the successful launching of the Space X satellite from NASA.[ 2016, 6 Marks]
What is software? Categorize different types of application software as per their use.[ 2016, 6 marks]
Write the classification of programming languages and explain the corresponding programs.[ 2016, 6 marks]
How do we maintain computer security? What are the common viruses?[ 2016, 6 marks]
What is a motherboard in a computer? Write different components of it and their use.[2016, 6 marks]
What is Microsoft word? Can you get Microsoft Office on an android tablet? Justify. [ 2016, 6 marks]
What is global warming, what are the causes of global warming, and what steps are being taken to contain it?[ 2015, 6 marks]
What are genetically modified crops and what are the advantages and dangers of GM crops?[ 2015, 6 marks]
What is stem cell research and how will stem cells help humanity?[ 2015, 6 marks]
What are green energy technologies? Describe their stability in the Indian Environment.[ 2015, 6 marks]
What are nanotechnologies and how will nanomaterials benefit us?[ 2015, 6 marks]
What is the World Wide Web and how is it accessed? What is the role of a search engine in WWW?[ 2015, 6 marks]
What is email and instant messaging? Name three major providers of public email services and instant messaging services.[2015, 6 marks]
In mobile communication, describe 2G, 3G, and 4G and their benefits.[ 2015, 6 marks]
Describe the controversy regarding Net Neutrality?[ 2015, 6 marks]
Describe three issues in computer and information security.[2015, 6 marks]
What are the main components of a computer?[2015, 6 marks]
How are computers used for entertainment?[2015, 6 marks]
How can computers be used for education and learning?[2015, 6 marks]
What is e-commerce and what are its benefits for common people?[2015; 6 marks]
What is cloud computing? Cite three examples of popular cloud computing services.[2015, 6 marks]
What is nuclear energy? How is it produced? What are its sources? Explain how it is harnessed?[ 2011, 30 marks]
What is meant by Remote sensing? Explain the techniques and advantages of remote sensing.[ 2011, 30 marks]
What are supercomputers? Discuss their types, properties, and applications.[ 2011, 15 marks]
What is meant by Global Warming? What are its causes and effects? How can it be reduced?[ 2011, 15 marks]
Describe the main components of a computer. Explain the meaning of speed, RAM,ROM, and Motherboard.[2011, 15 marks]
What are endangered species? What are the causes responsible for the extinction of species? How this trend can be reversed. Explain with examples.[ 2011, 15 marks]
What do you Understand by White Revolution?[2011, 5 marks]
Describe the properties of conductors, insulators, and semiconductors.[2011,5 marks]
Write a note on the carbon cycle in nature.[2011, 5 marks]
What are antibiotics? Describe their productions and uses?[ 2011, 5 marks]
Discuss the nature, harnessing, and uses of solar energy.[2011,5 marks]
Explain what are the causes and consequences of ozone layer depletion in the upper atmosphere. How can the depletion be removed? [2011,30 marks]
What is meant by Parthenogenesis? Distinguish between natural and induced parthenogenesis.[2011, 30 marks]
What is computer software? How are they produced? How many types are there? How are they affected by viruses? What is meant by the up-gradation of Software?[2011,15 marks]
Explain what are green fuels. How are they produced? Compare them with fossil fuels.[2006, 15 marks]
What is AIDS? How does it occur? How does it spread? Are there any cures for it? How can it be prevented?[2006,15 marks]
What are fullerenes? What are the applications?[2006, 5 marks]
Give the decimal equivalent of the binary number 1011011011.[2006, 5marks]
What are low-level and high-level programming languages?[2006, 5 marks]
What are nitrogenase enzymes? Mention their biological functions. [2006, 5 marks]
How does fossil fuel burning contribute to global warming?[2006, 5 marks]
What do you mean by ‘heavy metals’? Suggest any two methods for the identification and estimation of heavy metals from the environmental samples. Add a note on the speciation of metals. [2006,30 marks]
Explain the term ‘monoclonal antibodies. Discuss the methods followed in the preparation of them. In brief, write a note on: ‘recombinant DNA technology.[2006, 30 marks]
What is a database? Discuss its application. Explain at least one data model with suitable examples.[2006, 15 mark]
Define and explain the term; ‘Bioenergy’. Add a note on ‘Biofuels’.[2006, 15 marks]
Write notes on ‘steroid hormones’ and ‘Gene expression’.[2006,15 marks]
What do you understand about Green Chemistry?[ 2006,5 marks]
TATA box and CAAT box.[2006, 5 marks]
Assembler, Compiler, and Interpreter. [2006, 5 marks]
Write a note on ‘Artificial Intelligence.[2006, 5 marks]
Describe the safe way of removing CO2 from the air.[2006, 5 marks]